Richmond democrat., 1887-04-21
LIFE IN MEXICO.
Some ~ the Queer Characters 20 re seen
on the Streets OF Mexican Cities.

Some of the Queer Characters TO re seen
on the Streets OF Mexican Cities.
In no other country, In no other city
can be seen as In Mexico such close
juxtaposition Of splcndor and squalor,
of progress and semi-barbarism. Of po-
tential wealth and actual poverty, of
the old and the new. the high and the
low, Of culture aud abject Ignorance.
On the upper levels Of house may live
a family In opulent circumstances. en-
dowed with all the gIuccs. material and
spiritual. Of aristocracy and refinement
while the ground floor Is given up to
petty shops, work-rooms, perhaps n
cheap restaurant, or that most undesir-
able Of neighbors, a pNlquerfa. where
the lower classes resort TO bcfuddle
themselves with the whcy-colored
juice Of the magucy, Rubbing her
grimy elbows against the rich laces
aud silks Of the proudest and most
aristocratic Of fashionable danes may
be seen the brown Indian woman, frow-
sy headed, with a basket Of fruit or fish
upon her head, and another in her arms.
while child is strapped to her by
means Of the tightly knotted blanket.
She is barefoot, and her sole raimcnt,
besides the hipa aforesaid, which is n
bit Of narrow blanket perhaps yard
and half long. with slit in the CEN
ter to go over the head, is a brief scant
skirt, like bag. Of the same coarse,
dark fabric. The bdpiis the upper
garment worn by the Aztec women at
the time Of the conquest, and it still
obtains with the lower Orders in the
south Of Mexico, being also used for a
robe de chdmbre or night dress, made
of linen and ornate in finish. by the
ladies Of Yucatan.
The lottery ticket sellers in Mexico
are strong guild, for the business is
n profitable one. The lotteries are con-
Quoted by the Government. and the
ticket-vendcrs are paid liberal per-
centago Of their sales. Men. women
and children recruit the ranks; they
are found everywhere. They have no
distinctive features, save the great
budget of flimsy, translucent tickets
which they try 10 force upon the passer-
by, and their scissors for cutting of
coupons Several prominent journals
of the United States have lately printed
the remarkable statement that "all the
newsboys of Mexico are women, who
never cry their papers, but silently hold
them toward the passer." The chron-
icler of that error had in mind these
sellers of lottery tickets, the large
printed sheets of which do somewhat
resemble newspapers. 1t is safe TO
gamble on" the proposition that
there is not woman peddling news
papers in Mexico. The newsboys are
men and lads who cry their papers
and suggestion of their contents
with true professional yclls They
urge their wares pertinaciously, thrust
ing them through the windows Of
coaches and tramcars and invading
the latter il they can elude the conduc-
tors vigilance. The dJUGiorcs or pub
lie watcr-carricrs are picturesque and
characteristic sights. They wear
species of leather harness, breast-platc,
back-shield and apron, and fiat cap
usually of straw served with leather.
On the back, suspended by n broad
leather band crossing the forehead
rests an earthern jar with three han
dies, odd in shape, called a ehochocol,
and from another strap farther back
on the head depends the jarrd, another
earthenware vessel shaped like pitch
er In these utensils is carried from
the public fountains water for domestic
use in such houses as have no pipcd
water supply. 1t is noticeable that
these men all have ilattened heads, as
may well be, when their craniums are
subjected to almost constant pressure
and the weight of some ten gallons of
water. CITY Of MeLieo Cor. SaH Fran
cisco Chronicle.